Word on the Street Tuesday 3/20/18:
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| Symbol | Bid | Ask | High | Low | Open | Change | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/IQD | | | 1,163.5000 | 1,163.5000 | 1,163.5000 | | 21:00 |
| USD/VND | | | 22,739.5000 | 22,339.0000 | 22,339.0000 | | 05:15 |
| USD/CNY | | | 6.3319 | 6.3200 | 6.3308 | | 06:51 |
| USD/KWD | | | 0.2995 | 0.2987 | 0.2995 | | 06:32 |
| GBP/USD | | | 1.4065 | 1.4020 | 1.4033 | | 06:51 |
| USD/IRR | | | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | | 17:51 |
| USD/IDR | | | 13,767.0000 | 13,732.0000 | 13,762.0000 | | 06:47 |
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DC NY Iraq Articles:dd
Decision: Parliament will hold its last meeting on March 29 and continue 7 hours
March 20, 2018
Baghdad - Journal News
"The parliament will hold a closing session of the current parliamentary session on the 29th of this month, called the session of legislation of important laws," said the decision of the House of Representatives Niasi Myanmar Oglu, said on Tuesday that "early next April there will be no quorum because of the launch of election campaigns."
"This meeting, as it will last, will last for more than seven hours to complete the vote on the remaining laws," Oglu said, adding that "the date of the end of this month was due to the visit of Speaker of Parliament Salim al-Jubouri to Geneva from March 24 to 28, . According to the morning
"A large number of interrogations and incomplete laws have been transferred to the next parliamentary session," he said.
Observers are likely not to complete the quorum for the meeting of the House of Representatives during the remainder of his life, that is until April 10, the start of the propaganda campaign for candidates for the elections
Paying the salaries of Iraqi Kurdistan revives markets
Baghdad - Baraa al-Shammari, Erbil - Ali al-Husseini
Tuesday 20/03/2018
The Iraqi government announced yesterday the release of
salaries of employees of the Kurdistan region of Iraq (north), including Peshmerga fighters, after a break of several months, and resulted in economic crisis in the region caused the stagnation of markets and high rates of poverty, especially among employees, about one and a quarter Million. The "new Arab" observed an immediate improvement in the movement of consumption in the markets of the Kurdistan region , after the announcement of the payment of salaries, where citizens have agreed to spend after the reluctance, but the purchase of necessities. The decision comes after a series of negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil, which lasted several weeks, on the payroll file of employees in the region, where Baghdad required a review of the number of employees themselves, after suspicions that there are fictitious names of employees paid Baghdad monthly money to go to parties in Kurdistan.
Following the announcement of Baghdad's salary disbursement, the region's markets witnessed a remarkable recovery. A member of Arbil Chamber of Commerce, Mohammed Arras, told the "New Arab" that a month's salary would certainly move the stagnant market.
The markets for cars, furniture and luxury items have been stalled. People are entering the markets of vegetables, food and basic necessities since Baghdad cut salaries."
For his part, said a member of the Iraqi parliament for the Kurdistan Alliance, Zana Said, the "new Arab", "The last salary arrived in the region was in October last, and despite the welcome salaries, yesterday, but the amount is not enough for all staff, To 800 billion dinars to pay the salaries of its employees, and reached about 318 billion dinars, which means that the savings system will continue to work in the region.
The savings system caused by the crisis in the region, where Erbil decided to grant the employee only 40% of his salary and save him compulsively 60%, because of lack of funds to pay salaries of employees.
"I think every employee will get half the salary, but the most important question is: What is the fate of the salaries of the past months?اWhich is what we expect Baghdad to answer for sure.
The governor of the Central Bank of Iraq sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan Regional Government provided for the transfer of about 317 billion and 540 million dinars, including about 281 billion and 724 million dinars for employees of the Kurdistan region, except the Ministry of Finance, Peshmerga, and about 35 billion and 816 million dinars to the Ministry of Peshmerga. The statement added that "the Kurdistan region needs 590 billion dinars to pay the salaries of employees saving system."
For his part, commented the Iraqi government spokesman, Saad al-Hadithi, on the issue of the lack of payments to the region, and it is not enough for one third of the value of total salaries, as explained by members of the Iraqi parliament for the Kurdistan Alliance, saying that "the federal government spent 318 billion Iraqi dinars to be distributed to all Employees in the Kurdistan region ".
Al-Hadithi said that the mechanism for paying salaries for the federal government is that it is allocating a certain amount of salaries, while the remaining amount of oil exports should be covered within the fields located in the region. The file of salaries of the staff of the region is one of the outstanding problems between
Wasit allocates 3 billion dinars for the construction and maintenance of rural roads
Wassit / Al-Ghad Press:
The Wasit Governorate Council voted on Tuesday to allocate three billion dinars to establish rural roads in the province.
The correspondent of "Al-Ghad Press" in the province, the Wasit Council voted during its meeting today, the allocation of three billion dinars for the establishment and maintenance of rural roads in the districts and sub-districts of the province.
The Wasit Governorate Council voted on Tuesday to allocate three billion dinars to establish rural roads in the province.
The correspondent of "Al-Ghad Press" in the province, the Wasit Council voted during its meeting today, the allocation of three billion dinars for the establishment and maintenance of rural roads in the districts and sub-districts of the province.
According to the vote, the amounts allocated from the imports of the border area, which is supervised by Wasit province and its council.
The revenues of the border square at the Zerbatiya border with Iran, east of Wasit, are estimated at about 10 billion dinars a year, rising and falling from year to year. The revenues go to the account of the Wassit Reconstruction Fund and are only disbursed by a majority vote. d
The revenues of the border square at the Zerbatiya border with Iran, east of Wasit, are estimated at about 10 billion dinars a year, rising and falling from year to year. The revenues go to the account of the Wassit Reconstruction Fund and are only disbursed by a majority vote. d
Change: Provincial government is required to disclose its agreement with Baghdad
Stressed the Coordinator of the General Movement for Change on the need to announce the territorial government for its agreement with the central government in Baghdad and revealed its content to the public opinion in the Kurdistan region.
"All salaries must be paid without imposing a savings regime," Omar al-Sayyid Ali, general coordinator of the Change Movement, said in a statement on Monday. "The government of the region must announce its agreement with the central government in Baghdad regarding the import and export of oil and disclose the content of that agreement to public opinion. In the Kurdistan region, expressing his support and solidarity to the demands of staff and teachers, the payment of their monthly salaries in their time without saving by the Government of the Territory.
He called on the Coordinator of the Movement for Change, the Government of the Territory to disclose internal imports and customs revenues in the region.
Kurdistan receives 317.5 billion dinars from Baghdad to pay the salaries of its employees
Former meeting between the Iraqi Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of the Region
Direct : The Ministry of Finance of the Kurdistan region of Iraq from the federal government in Baghdad, on Monday, 317.54 billion dinars ($ 267.63 million), to pay the salaries of regional employees, including members of the Kurdish Peshmerga.
The Kurdish financial, the amount will be divided into 281.72 billion dinars, for the staff of the region, and the rest of the amount of 35.82 billion dinars to the Ministry of Peshmerga, according to (Iraqi News Agency).
The ministry pointed out the need for the actual territory to cover salaries, amounting to 590 billion dinars.
The government of the region will hold a meeting after the holiday holiday Noruz (Kurdish New Year), to consolidate the amounts transferred from Baghdad, in addition to oil imports of the region, to review the payroll of its employees, in order to improve their living conditions.
As of the beginning of this month, the Iraqi Council of Representatives approved the final draft of the federal budget for the year 2018 , worth 88.5 billion dollars (104.96 trillion dinars), with expenditures estimated at 104.16 trillion dinars, and a total deficit of 12.51 trillion dinars .
The Kurdish deputies boycotted the vote on the adoption of the budget; in protest against the reduction of the quota of autonomous Kurdistan region of the budget, which amounted to 17% within the budget of 2017, based on "Baghdad" of the population of the region.
The Kurds considered reducing the share of the province in the federal budget for Iraq, a step from Baghdad to punish the region on the move to hold a referendum on secession on 25 September last .
Earlier, the adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister for Economic Affairs said that what the media are talking about reducing the share of Kurdistan in the draft budget of 2018 from 17% to 12% only drafts have not yet adopted by the government and talk about them "just speculation ."
Agricultural associations complain about the corruption of border crossings in the introduction of imported products
Release Date: 2018/3/19 22:05 • 69 times read
[Baghdad: Al Furat News} Agricultural associations complained about the corruption of border crossings in the introduction of imported agricultural products.
The head of the General Federation of Agricultural Societies in Iraq, Hassan Nassif al-Tamimi, told the {Euphrates News} today that "one of the most important problems facing farmers today is the lack of commitment to the border crossings decisions issued by the federal government and not to enter agricultural crops at the peak of local production."
He added that "we have a full agricultural cycle for the crop of tomatoes starting from the province of Basra through the provinces of Najaf and Karbala holy and the rest of the Iraqi provinces, as there is a peak production and issued an agricultural calendar working out border crossings to prevent the import of agricultural product at its peak.
He pointed out that "there is manipulation of the two sides of the first outlets within the Kurdistan region and as a result pass through the port of zero and encapsulated Iraqi markets at the lowest prices, and the second manipulation of traders to enter the imported crops."
"The entry of imported crops and the manipulation of traders is a legal violation of the party granting import licenses and must be held accountabled
He added that "we have a full agricultural cycle for the crop of tomatoes starting from the province of Basra through the provinces of Najaf and Karbala holy and the rest of the Iraqi provinces, as there is a peak production and issued an agricultural calendar working out border crossings to prevent the import of agricultural product at its peak.
He pointed out that "there is manipulation of the two sides of the first outlets within the Kurdistan region and as a result pass through the port of zero and encapsulated Iraqi markets at the lowest prices, and the second manipulation of traders to enter the imported crops."
"The entry of imported crops and the manipulation of traders is a legal violation of the party granting import licenses and must be held accountabled
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:dd
Secretary Mnuchin Leads U.S. Delegation to G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina Secretary to also visit Santiago, Chile
https://home.treasury.gov/
https://home.treasury.gov/
Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin will attend the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina from March 19 – 20, 2018. In addition to the official program, Secretary Mnuchin will hold bilateral meetings with a number of his finance minister and central bank governor counterparts.
"The trip to the G-20 will focus on advancing the Trump administration's global economic agenda to level the playing field for U.S. companies and workers," said Secretary Mnuchin. "Our trip will include meetings with other leaders on key economic priorities. These discussions will also focus on combating the financial streams of terrorist groups, narcotics traffickers, and human rights abusers, as well as protecting against the illicit use of crypto currencies."
Secretary Mnuchin will visit also Santiago, Chile on March 21, to meet with newly-inaugurated President Sebastián Piñera and Finance Minister Felipe Larraín.
"I look forward to meeting with Chilean President Piñera and Minister Larraín to discuss our growth initiatives for Latin America, including opportunities that will increase our economic and investment relationship," said Mnuchin. d
"The trip to the G-20 will focus on advancing the Trump administration's global economic agenda to level the playing field for U.S. companies and workers," said Secretary Mnuchin. "Our trip will include meetings with other leaders on key economic priorities. These discussions will also focus on combating the financial streams of terrorist groups, narcotics traffickers, and human rights abusers, as well as protecting against the illicit use of crypto currencies."
Secretary Mnuchin will visit also Santiago, Chile on March 21, to meet with newly-inaugurated President Sebastián Piñera and Finance Minister Felipe Larraín.
"I look forward to meeting with Chilean President Piñera and Minister Larraín to discuss our growth initiatives for Latin America, including opportunities that will increase our economic and investment relationship," said Mnuchin. d
Riyadh: Crown Prince to discuss Iraq, Iran and Syria in Washington
March 20, 2018
Baghdad - Agencies
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who arrived in Washington today, will discuss with US officials a number of issues, including Iraq, Iran and Syria, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Tuesday.
"The Saudi Crown Prince's visit to the United States will focus on discussing and discussing several issues, including Iran, Yemen and Syria, as well as Iraq, Libya and the fight against terrorism," the official Saudi Press Agency said.
He added that his country and the United States are allies in a number of issues, especially in the fight against terrorism and dealing with Iranian threats in the region, pointing out that the visit of the Crown Prince comes at an important and sensitive time in the light of important and urgent issues in the region such as the Syrian crisis and Iranian threats and reconstruction and reconstruction in Iraq The situation in Libya and other issues.
Al-Jubair pointed out that bin Salman will meet with US President Donald Trump and his deputy, and a number of lawmakers and officials in the US administration, and will meet with many heads of large American companies to review the objectives of the vision of the Kingdom 2030. d
Postponement of Saudi officials' visit to post-election Iraq
Release Date: 2018/3/20 8:49 • 275 times scheduled
The Iraqi-Saudi Friendship Committee has prepared a working paper between the two countries covering all levels, while confirming that visits of Saudi officials have been postponed until after the elections in May.
"A joint vision was formed between Baghdad and Riyadh through mutual visits by members of the Friendship Committee," Hassan Shweird al-Hamdani, head of the committee, said in a press statement. "There is cooperation between the two sides in developing the work between the two legislative institutions in the two countries, This action to the executive branch. "
"There are visits by Saudi officials to Iraq, but the electoral environment has prevented the completion of coordination on them," he said. "The visits will take place after the elections in May to activate the work of the friendship committees between the two countries."
For his part, praised the Vice-Chairman of the Iraqi Friendship Committee, Saudi Arabia Aboud Wahid al-Issawi, the role of the ambassadors of Iraq and Saudi Arabia in bringing the views of the two officials.
Issawi said in a press statement, "What is required at the moment to build good relations with all neighboring countries provided that not interfere in the Iraqi internal affairs."
The relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia are witnessing steady development in various political, economic, sports and other fields. is over
"There are visits by Saudi officials to Iraq, but the electoral environment has prevented the completion of coordination on them," he said. "The visits will take place after the elections in May to activate the work of the friendship committees between the two countries."
For his part, praised the Vice-Chairman of the Iraqi Friendship Committee, Saudi Arabia Aboud Wahid al-Issawi, the role of the ambassadors of Iraq and Saudi Arabia in bringing the views of the two officials.
Issawi said in a press statement, "What is required at the moment to build good relations with all neighboring countries provided that not interfere in the Iraqi internal affairs."
The relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia are witnessing steady development in various political, economic, sports and other fields. is over
Iraq to Russia: We have shown the world our success in fighting terrorism and applying human rights standards
Editorial Date: 2018/3/19 19:45 • 127 times read
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has proved to the world its success in fighting terrorism and applying human rights standards, Justice Minister Haider al-Zamili said on Monday.
"The Iraqi government has proved to the whole world its success in combating terrorism and liberating its lands from the occupation," said the Russian ambassador to Iraq, Maxim Maximov, during a meeting with the Russian ambassador to Iraq. Control ".
He added that "human rights standards have also been applied in their prisons and the testimony of the international organizations that are sensitive to human rights," noting that "wars bear several facets of individual actions, which the government has to hold accountable those who fail and present their results to public opinion."
He added that "human rights standards have also been applied in their prisons and the testimony of the international organizations that are sensitive to human rights," noting that "wars bear several facets of individual actions, which the government has to hold accountable those who fail and present their results to public opinion."
Iraq offers cooperation with Shell to develop gas sector
The Ministry of Oil discussed with Shell Oil Company ways of joint cooperation between the two parties to develop the gas sector in Iraq.
The ministry said in a statement on Monday that "Oil Minister Jabbar al-Allaibi received the director of Shell in Iraq, Marcos Antonini, and the accompanying delegation, and discussed bilateral cooperation and development of the gas sector in the country."
"The Ministry of Oil is looking forward to enhance cooperation opportunities and develop work with Shell to develop the gas industry and optimize the investment of oil wealth," he added. "The ministry is keen to cooperate optimally with international companies."
In turn, the director of Shell in Iraq, Marcos Antonini, said that "his company seeks to develop work with the Ministry of Oil and move forward to develop the gas sector in the country."
The arrest of former French President Sarkozy
Editorial date: 2018/3/20 12:06 • 71 times read
(International: Euphrates News) French police announced on Tuesday, the arrest of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, on suspicion of corruption in the financing of his campaign.
Police said Sarkozy's arrest at a police headquarters could last for 48 hours.
Under French law, police can detain a person for two days before being released or charged.
French authorities suspect Sarkozy has received money from ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his campaign in the 2007 presidential race.
There are suspicions that Sarkozy has forged suspicious deals with Qatar, and former FIFA president Joseph Blatter has said Sarkozy has a role in granting Qatar the right to host the 2022 Cup.
The British authorities have already arrested French businessman Alexander El Gohary for a period on suspicion that he was transferring funds from Gaddafi to Sarkozy.
Under French law, police can detain a person for two days before being released or charged.
French authorities suspect Sarkozy has received money from ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to fund his campaign in the 2007 presidential race.
There are suspicions that Sarkozy has forged suspicious deals with Qatar, and former FIFA president Joseph Blatter has said Sarkozy has a role in granting Qatar the right to host the 2022 Cup.
The British authorities have already arrested French businessman Alexander El Gohary for a period on suspicion that he was transferring funds from Gaddafi to Sarkozy.
d
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The 24-year-old billionaire heiress to the Dell fortune left social media after exposing her family to security risks — here's her advice for teens on appsd
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GLOBAL/NEWS/INFO
Someday we will all be millionaires. Read the article below from JC NY and how it could apply to you and your families Safety.. DC NY
The 24-year-old billionaire heiress to the Dell fortune left social media after exposing her family to security risks — here's her advice for teens on appsd
Melia Robinson
Business Insider• March 18, 2018
alexa dell 2
Sigmund Freud/25
- Alexa Dell, the daughter of computer magnate Michael Dell, once posted an image to Instagram of her younger brother aboard the family's private jet.
- The "Rich Kids of Instagram" Tumblr blogged the image, and it went viral.
- Dell was forced to leave social media after exposing her family to security risks.
- Dell, now a 24-year-old startup advisor, has advice for teens on apps today.
Alexa Dell, 24, is the daughter of tech billionaire and entrepreneur Michael Dell. She grew up in Austin, Texas on a sprawling estate called "The Castle" with her parents and four siblings, and her father gave her an at-home masterclass on building world-changing technologies.
But as tech royalty, Dell quickly learned that she couldn't use social media apps the way most teenagers do. Business Insider caught up with Dell at SXSW to hear the whole story.
When she was 18, Dell posted a photo to Instagram. Her younger brother, Zacahary, sat in the window seat of what appeared to be a small plane. A spread of fresh fruit, vegetables, charcuterie, and, of course, a Dell laptop, was laid before him.
alexa dell zachary dell rich kids of instagram
Instagram/Alexa Dell and The Verge
"Snachary en route to Fiji @zachdell by alexadell #dell #privatejet," Alexa Dell's caption read.
Then the internet descended.
Rich Kids of Instagram, a popular Tumblr site that documents the adventures of the world's wealthiest offspring, circulated the image. Within a week 0f the posting, Dell and her brother, Zachary, disappeared from social media.
Bloomberg BusinessWeek broke the story that Dell had been documenting her every move on Twitter, complete with GPS locations from her phone. According to BusinessWeek, Dell's father's security detail had her Twitter and Instagram accounts suspended. The article cited concerns over the family's safety, singling out fears of kidnapping for ransom.
It's worth noting that Gawker's now-defunct Valleywag reported that Alexa Dell shut down her social media accounts without the Dell company's intervention after the photo went viral.
Dell was an 18-year-old Columbia University student and "W" magazine intern at the time.
She told Business Insider her first response to the Rich Kids of Instagram posting was panic.
alexa dell 1
Sigmund Freud/25
"That obviously took me completely by surprise. I didn't even realize that account, or that blog-Tumblr-thing, was a thing," Dell said. "It's unfortunate because it obviously put my family at risk and our safety. It's a shame that there are people out there who just are having fun exploiting others."
In 2012, BusinessWeek reviewed proxy statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commision that showed Michael Dell spent $2.7 million annually on his family's security. His company provides the security detail, and Dell reimburses the company for its protection.
But the computer magnate didn't know to check his daughter's social media accounts.
"[Social media] wasn't there when I grew up. It wasn't something that I was taught how to do. It was something that we sort of taught ourselves how to use, and it sort of grew with us and became what it is now over time," Dell said.
Dell returned to Instagram only two days after the BusinessWeek article posted, with a photo of the college student sitting poolside in a tropical location with a grove of palm trees behind her.
Her posts to Instagram are no longer tagged with her location.
Today, Dell runs a tech consulting business, and counts dating app Bumble as a client.
Dell said the experience of making it onto Tumblr's Rich Kids of Instagram — and the safety risk it created — taught her a lesson that teens on social media platforms can learn from.
"I would advise younger people new to social media to be weary ... everyone's not so nice," Dell said.
She encouraged teens to "think twice" and "be careful" before sharing personal information on the internet. She also warned that a person's tone of voice can be lost in translation on apps.
"If you think you meant something in a fun and lighthearted kind of context, someone may spin that and take it from you," Dell said.
Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend
USA TODAY
USA TODAY
Trump attacks Mueller, McCabe's firing, UMBC upset, and more news you missed this weekend. Read the full story
Do these 5 things right now to make sure you have enough money to retire
MarketWatch
Many of the old retirement formulas don’t work anymore. Take these steps to boost your lifetime income. Read the full story
World’s first mass-produced, 3D-printed electric car to be sold in China by 2019
South China Morning Post
Expected to cost just US$9,450, the two-seater LSEV will have a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour and a range of 150km Read the full story
OIL/COMMODITIES/ENERGY
Gold Prices Inch Lower As Investors Expect Fed To Raise Rate
Investing.com
Investing.com
Gold prices edged lower on Monday as the dollar stayed firm ahead of the Fed meeting later this week Read the full story
Gold Prices Hover at 2-Week Lows on Dollar Strength
Investing.com
Investing.com
© Reuters. Gold prices remain under pressure ahead of Fed meeting Read the full story
Crude Oil Prices Turn Lower on U.S. Drilling Activity
Investing.com
© Reuters. Crude oil prices decline as optimism wanes Read the full story
China tackles speculation as it tries to create oil benchmark - News for the Oil and Gas Sector
Energy Voice
As China seeks to establish a global oil benchmark at home, it wants to prevent a speculative bubble in its upcoming crude futures. While contracts for everything from apples to steel change hands in China with an intensity that makes trading in the world’s more established exchanges look placid, the fervor has undermined their reliability as benchmarks. The top user of most commodities wants to avoid that pitfall when it launches yuan oil futures next week in a bid to encourage the global use Read the full story
Want to Invest in Commodities? Here Are 4 Smart Choices
The Motley Fool
Learn the different ways you can get exposure to this key asset class. Read the full story
BANKS/BANKING/CREDIT
It’s a big week for central bankers on both sides of the Atlantic - MoneyWeek
MoneyWeek
MoneyWeek
In both the US and UK this week, central bankers will decide on interest rates. John Stepek explains what to expect, and how it will affect the markets. Read the full story
Do you feel overwhelmed by credit card debt? Looking at a high interest rate and seeing how long it takes to tackle the principal can be disheartening. When faced with this difficulty, some consumers consider taking out a personal loan to pay off the debt. While it can be a good move to use a personal loan to consolidate credit card debt, there are also downsides. Let’s take a look at how it works — and when it makes the most sense. How to pay off your credit cards with a personal loan In most Read the full story
Credit Suisse CEO says bank will be 'very profitable' after it puts 'undesirable' trades behind it
There is no way to clean up the past without generating losses, Credit Suisse group chief executive officer Tidjane Thiam said.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/
How to make your savings work for you in a low-rate climate
Starts at 60
Australia’s interest-rate environment over the last decade has been great for borrowers, but increasingly more challenging for savers - particularly those who prefer to hold substantial portions of their savings in low-risk savings options like savings accounts and term deposits. ... Read the full story
Consumers give evidence to banks inquiry
SBS News
Consumers will continue sharing their stories with the financial services royal commission as a second week of public hearings begins. Read the full story
Banking: CD early withdrawal penalties can cost you
USA TODAY
If you understand the terms and how this savings tool works, you can avoid getting hurt. Read the full story
After Tencent and Ctrip, Bank of East Asia eyes more partners for virtual banking
South China Morning Post
Hong Kong-listed Bank of East Asia is looking for more partners to develop and expand virtual banking services Read the full story
TREASURIES/BONDS/STOCKS
Top 5 Things to Know in the Market on Monday
Investing.com
Investing.com
© Reuters. Top 5 Things to Know in the Market on Monday Read the full story
Market's comeback likely has another 9% to go from here before it hits a ceiling this year
CNBC
Mike Santoli discusses where the ceiling is for this latest comeback, if it continues. Read the full story
Anticipation over rate hike forecast from Federal Reserve tops economic news this week
USA TODAY
An anticipated interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, along with a fresh forecast for future rate increases, tops this week's economic news. Read the full story
Shares in the red as nervous markets await Fed
Business Insider
Business Insider
Investors look at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai Thomson Reuters By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian share markets slipped into the red on Monday as caution gripped investors in a week in which the Federal Reserve is likely to hike U.S. interest rates and perhaps signal that as many as three more lie in store for the rest of the year. Japan's Nikkei extended early losses to drop 1.3 percent as exporters were undermined by recent broad-based Read the full story
Markets don’t care about Trump’s Twitter meltdown – futures basically indicate a flat open
CNBC
Wall Street continued to ignore the chaos in Washington D.C. Read the full story
INSURANCE/HEALTH
$12,000 for a bee sting? Emergency room visits get even pricier
CNN Money
CNN Money
Patients who visit emergency rooms are getting hit with sky-high bills. Spending on an ER visit rose to $1,917, on average, in 2016, up more than 31% from four years earlier. Read the full story
Hormone imbalance may explain higher diabetes rates in sleep-deprived men
Science Magazine
CHICAGO--Studies have found an association between insufficient sleep and the development of insulin resistance, one of the factors that cause type 2 diabetes, and now researchers have discovered a biological reason for this relationship, at least in.. Read the full story
Better understanding ALS by looking at how cells change
Science Magazine
Credit: CRCHUM It took eight long years of research, but now an international team led by neuroscientists at Université de Montréal has discovered a basic molecular mechanism that better helps unde.. Read the full story
As experts warn of global infectious diseases timebomb, Colombia records its first measles case in years
The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Pestilence is often depicted as one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Colombia has largely prevented war, death and famine from spilling over from Venezuela, its perpetually troubled neighbour. Read the full story
Stem cell transplant 'game changer' for MS patients
BBC News US
Results from an international trial show that it was able to stop the disease and improve symptoms. Read the full story
CRYPTO'S / DIGITAL CURRENCY
All the Places Now Cracking Down on Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies
Money
Money
New rules on mining, trading, and use. Read the full story
Bitcoin bounces $700 in less than three hours, capping wild weekend that brought it below $7,400
Bitcoin prices had a wild weekend on reports that Twitter will follow Google and Facebook's lead in banning cryptocurrency ads.
Ether plunges after SEC says “dozens” of ICO investigations underway
Ars Technica
The Ethereum cryptocurrency is below $500 for the first time since 2017. Read the full story
FTC brings the hammer down on crypto ponzi schemes
Digital Trends
Ponzi schemes are alive and well, and now they've made their way to to the digital realm in the form of cryptocurrency. The FTC has filed a complaint in court against one such scheme called the Bitcoin Funding Team. Read the full story
Bitcoin plunges 7%, then bounces back, after report of Twitter ad ban
MarketWatch
MarketWatch
The price of bitcoin swung wildly Sunday, first plunging about 7% to nearly $7,000, then rallying by $700 in the span of a few hours. Read the full story
CURRENCIES
Does Donald Trump eye a weak dollar? | Business| Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 19.03.2018
DW
DW
The higher tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that US President Donald Trump announced in early March have shattered Europeans' faith in their transatlantic ally. They, and many others for that matter, are now asking just how reliable the US is in economic matters. Donald Trump's zig-zag policy style is creating fears among partners, who have started talking about a trade war as a spiral of higher tariffs and countermeasures seems irreversible. Ahead of the Buenos Aires meeting of G20 finance Read the full story
Forex - Dollar Index Holds Steady with Fed Meeting in Focus
Dollar little changed vs. rivals, all eyes on Fed Read the full story
Forex - Dollar Edges Higher as Markets Look Ahead to Fed
© Reuters. Dollar edges up ahead of Fed meeting Read the full story
Pound to Euro exchange rate: Sterling retains its rise following positive Brexit outlook
Express
THE POUND has retained its recent rise following positive Brexit progress and the release of the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision which may hike interest rates in May. The pound is currently trading against the euro at £1.1355 having managed to maintain its recent gain over the weekend. Read the full story
Rupee weakens against US dollar on wider current account deficit data
Livemint
Livemint
Mumbai: The Indian rupee on Monday weakened against the US dollar after India’s current account deficit widened sharply driven by higher imports. Read the full story
USA/CANADA
A low pressure system moving across the Southeast will develop into a nor'easter this week. Read the full story
White House officials made to sign non-disclosure agreements, report says
The Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump ordered senior staff to sign non-disclosure agreements after they joined the White House.
US trade groups urge Trump to avoid tariffs against China
"We urge the administration not to impose tariffs and to work with the business community to find an effective, but measured, solution to China's protectionist trade policies."
EMERGING MARKETS
For Puerto Rico, the Return to Business as Usual is Slow
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Though economic activity in Puerto Rico has picked up in recent months, businesses large and small are struggling amid electricity woes and an exodus of residents. Read the full story
How China's ride-hailing giant Didi plans to challenge Uber in Mexico
Business Insider
Man walks by under an Uber logo in Mexico City Thomson Reuters By Julia Love and Heather Somerville MEXICO CITY/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Working quietly from a shared office space in one of Mexico City's trendiest neighborhoods, China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is planning to hit its archrival Uber where it hurts. Mexico is one of Uber Technologies Inc's [UBER.UL] most prized and profitable markets. The San Francisco firm boasts a near monopoly here, with seven million users in more than Read the full story
Is Mexico safe? Where to travel now
Parts of the country have been besieged by gang violence, assaults and even reports of poisoned liquor, but there are safe places to travel say experts.
MIDDLE EAST
Iraq approves payment of civil servant salaries for Kurdish Region amid ongoing budget dispute
Reuters
Reuters
Iraq agreed to pay the salaries of the Kurdistan region's civil servants and security forces, a spokesman for the government said on Monday. Read the full story
The Savior Of Iraq’s Garden Of Eden Says He Knows How To Stop The Next Big War
HuffPost
HuffPost
Azzam Alwash, the man credited with restoring the Iraqi marshlands believed to ... Read the full story
AFRICA
Africa: How the Free Movement of People Could Benefit Africa
AllAfrica
AllAfrica
The African Union (AU) has adopted a Free Movement Protocol and a draft plan of action to go with it. The idea was first set out in the Abuja Treaty, which was endorsed in 1991 at the establishment of the African Economic Community. The AU's protocol defines free movement as the right to enter and exit member states and move freely within them, subject to the states' laws and procedures. It regards the freedom to travel or move goods across the continent as likely to boost the economic Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Striking Doctors, Nurses Dig in As Zim Hospitals Grind to a Halt
AllAfrica
(Photo: Pixabay) A sense of despair has pervaded Zimbabwe's major hospitals as the standoff between the government and health workers has left critically ill patients stranded. Doctors at public health institutions, who have been on strike for over two weeks demanding a review of their allowances, among a litany of issues, have been joined by nurses to press the government to act on the rot in the country's public hospitals. Scores of people desperate for medical care are being turned away from Read the full story
Zimbabwe: 'It Was Me Who Urged Mugabe to Resign,' Says Wife Grace
AllAfrica
(Photo: The Herald) Former first lady Grace Mugabe says she convinced her husband to stand down after last year's military takeover when he was determined not to, it has emerged. Grace Mugabe made the claim during a surprise press conference her husband gave at the couple's Harare mansion this week. 'It was me who urged him to resign' "Baba (father) did not want to put pen to paper, in fact it was me who urged him to resign for the sake of peace because Baba did not want to," Grace Mugabe said, Read the full story
East Africa: How an Ethiopia-Backed Port Is Changing Power Dynamics in the Horn of Africa
AllAfrica
(Photo: Skilla1st/WIkipedia) When Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Ethiopia became landlocked and therefore dependent on its neighbours - especially Djibouti - for access to international markets. This dependency has hampered Ethiopia's aspiration to emerge as the uncontested regional power in the Horn of Africa. Recently, however, the ground has been shifting. As we point out in a recent article, Ethiopia has attempted to take advantage of the recent involvement of various Read the full story
Petsec Energy completes acquisition of onshore oil permit in Yemen
Proactive Investors
Petsec Energy Ltd (ASX:PSA) has completed the acquisition of a 40% working interest in the Al Barqa (Block 7) licence and operatorship in the Republic of Yemen. Block 7 is an onshore exploration permit covering an area of 5,000 square kilometres. The block contains the Al Meashar oil discovery made by Oil Search Limited (ASX:OSH) in 2010 as well as an inventory of nine prospects and leads defined by 2D and 3D seismic surveys. Target sizes of the prospects range from 2 to 900 million barrels of Read the full story
ASIA
Japan reveals a ‘Supreme’ version of its bullet train
The Verge
The Verge
Just in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Read the full story
Japan is changing its views on entrepreneurship — and that could be good for start-ups
CNBC
Investors tell CNBC that talented people are leaving their corporate jobs to join start-ups or found their own companies. Read the full story
China trails US in every area of AI development except big data, Oxford University report finds
South China Morning Post
With 1.4 billion people, more than a billion smartphones in use and 750 million internet users, harnessing data is no problem for China. But will that be enough? Read the full story
Chinese Online Lending Platform Senmiao Technology Plans $12M US IPO
China Money Network
Chinese online lending platform Senmiao Technology Limited has announced the pricing of its initial public offering for total gross proceeds of proceeds of approximately US$12 million. Senmiao’s IPO is the latest in a series of Chinese fintech companies going public in the U.S. More than six Chinese fintech firms went public in the U.S. last year, as Chinese venture capital firms experienced a year of record IPO exits in 2017. The company plans to offer 3 million shares of its … Chinese Online Read the full story
China's Yi Gang nominated as new central bank governor, officials say
China has selected American-trained economist Yi Gang to become the country's new central bank governor, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
China has appointed an American-trained economist to head its central bank
Business Insider
Economist Yi Gang, who was trained in the US, will become China's new central bank governor. He will succeed the country's longest serving central bank head, Zhou Xiaochuan. Zhou is said to be retiring from his post soon. SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has selected American-trained economist Yi Gang to become the country's new central bank governor, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing unnamed people with knowledge of the matter. The WSJ said the nomination of Yi, who is currently Read the full story
EUROPE
France and Germany are looking for an elusive anchor in a Europe adrift
CNBC
CNBC
Germany now wants to reassert its control over a splintering community of nation states, Michael Ivanovitch writes. Read the full story
European Union and the UK agree to a transition period of 21 months
CNBC
The U.K. will remain in the EU until the end of 2020, but with restricted powers, officials announced Monday. Read the full story
Brexit Bulletin: The Bridge Gets Built
Bloomberg
Non-stop business knowledge Get more on The Bloomberg App Sign up to receive the Brexit Bulletin in your inbox, and follow @Brexit on Twitter. It’s crunch week for businesses wanting to know the rules and trading regime they’ll be operating under just a year from now. On Monday, Brexit Secretary David Davis and chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier meet in Brussels. A news conference has been penciled in for midday. Davis has avoided appearing alongside Barnier so far this year, so it could be a Read the full story
Vladimir Putin heads to big win in a vote tainted by fraud
CBS News
Victory adds six years in the Kremlin for the man who has led the world's largest country for all of the 21st century Read the full story
Britain must follow Brussels rules on aerospace after Brexit to protect industry, says House of Commons committee
The Independent
Britain must follow Brussels rules on aerospace after Brexit to protect the industry, a House of Commons committee has said. Read the full storyd
Blessed and Highly Favored:
CBI Update:
The CBI for Tuesday 3/20/18 did update on the indicative rates Sell Rate 1184
The currency auction is 168,576,870
There are 2 news and announcements for Tuesday 3/20/18
1 .Banking Awareness and Public Protection Course (Third) for 25-2018 / 3/29
To / Bank and authorized transfer companies (banking awareness and public protection course) & n.
To / Bank and authorized transfer companies (banking awareness and public protection course) & n.
To the bank / authorized transfer companies (banking awareness and public protection) third session for 25-2018 / 3/29 ..
2. Tender No. (1) for the year 2018 processing machines ( Can't translate attached document)
ISX Update:
Value Traded
1,553,465,690
Shares Traded
2,573,715,094
ISX ended in Red
3-19-2018 Newshound Guru mike Article quote: "Alsumaria News / Baghdad , the US dollar exchange rate prices continued to decline against the Iraqi Aldnyar in exchange central struggle in Baghdad, local markets on Monday (March 19 2018). Kifah Stock Exchange - Baghdad 121.150, while the prices for Sunday was 121,300. Selling and buying prices in the money market Selling price of the dollar = 121,500 dinars. The price of buying the dollar = 120.500 dinars" [They cant keep doing 200 million dollar auctions...and now they are at 1205...looking great!] Now they need to hold it for 90 days, keep them auctions running Keywords.
3-19-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat Article: "APPROVAL OF THE LAW OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL OIL COMPANY (Oil and Gas Law)" ...we have waiting over 10 years for this law. It is now passed in parliament. It now needs to be ratified and in gazette. ...Again I told everyone this HCL was needed to get the currency reinstatement. Now we watch and wait for Article 140, which should be coming to us soon. We know that Article 140 and HCL kind of go hand in hand…
3-19-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG They know (or can foresee) something is on the horizon? They bring in all this IQD (for essentially – FREE)… then the IQD value goes up. They just sold millions upon millions of shares of a Bank that is essentially worthless for $1 per share (or more). Sounds like the greatest financial coup in history. Would the value of the IQD going up make the bank more valuable? No, it does not...but if Warka pulls this off they will be sitting on a GIGANTIC PILE OF MONEY. Why else would they sell a share of their (albeit $h!tty) bank for FRACTIONS of a cent? They would be GIVING IT AWAY…Unless, of course, they foresee buying the incoming money at one price and selling it later at another. [post 2 of 2]
3-19-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG Quote: "To our esteemed and distinguished Warka clients, Warka Bank for Investment and Finance is delighted to inform its fine clients that the distinguished Central Bank of Iraq has approved that our clients participate in the upcoming capital increase." I get it that they’ve changed (ownership / management), they’re all different now and under the direct oversight of the CBI (which might even bother me a little more)…BUT HOLY COW!! These guys are really something…“Here’s a letter authorizing us to withdraw the money from your account”… (because it’s somehow – legally O.K.) …and put it in ours… “sign right here please… press hard – there are three copies” However, the flip side of this is, what if… [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
3-19-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat Article: "APPROVAL OF THE LAW OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL OIL COMPANY (Oil and Gas Law)" ...we have waiting over 10 years for this law. It is now passed in parliament. It now needs to be ratified and in gazette. ...Again I told everyone this HCL was needed to get the currency reinstatement. Now we watch and wait for Article 140, which should be coming to us soon. We know that Article 140 and HCL kind of go hand in hand…
3-19-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG They know (or can foresee) something is on the horizon? They bring in all this IQD (for essentially – FREE)… then the IQD value goes up. They just sold millions upon millions of shares of a Bank that is essentially worthless for $1 per share (or more). Sounds like the greatest financial coup in history. Would the value of the IQD going up make the bank more valuable? No, it does not...but if Warka pulls this off they will be sitting on a GIGANTIC PILE OF MONEY. Why else would they sell a share of their (albeit $h!tty) bank for FRACTIONS of a cent? They would be GIVING IT AWAY…Unless, of course, they foresee buying the incoming money at one price and selling it later at another. [post 2 of 2]
3-19-2018 Newshound/Intel Guru BGG Quote: "To our esteemed and distinguished Warka clients, Warka Bank for Investment and Finance is delighted to inform its fine clients that the distinguished Central Bank of Iraq has approved that our clients participate in the upcoming capital increase." I get it that they’ve changed (ownership / management), they’re all different now and under the direct oversight of the CBI (which might even bother me a little more)…BUT HOLY COW!! These guys are really something…“Here’s a letter authorizing us to withdraw the money from your account”… (because it’s somehow – legally O.K.) …and put it in ours… “sign right here please… press hard – there are three copies” However, the flip side of this is, what if… [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
3-19-2018
Newshound Guru chattels An average of $ 200 million dollars is about $ 50 million more per auction than the rough average for the past several months which captures alot of dinar from general circulation is a thought that occurs to me. [reference Guru Kaperoni post 3-19-2018]3-19-2018 Newshound Guru sandyf Under Iraq Investment Law, all shares on the ISX have a nominal value of 1 IQD. Shares of 1 IQD are being sold by Warka for 1 IQD - surprise,surprise. Shares on the Kuwait stock exchange have a nominal value of 200 fils. The real question people should be looking at is why is Warka increasing the capital when it is supposedly going to be worth more than Wells Fargo overnight.
3-19-2018 Newshound Guru Kaperoni ...the CBI is selling lots of dollars right now (200 million today) so my guess is they are in compliance and not planning to wait to much longer for Article VIII. They want to end the auctions and stop draining the reserves. Hang in there.
3-18-2018 Intel Guru RayRen98 Iraqi TV broadcasts the CBI has launched electronic banking throughout Iraq stating that all citizens will now be paid via this new system. Even the Kurdistan region has ceded its banking operations. Written articles have surfaced stating the following: The Budget will go forth as written, even if not approved by the President of the Republic, Faud Masoum. The House of Representatives formally addressed the Ministry of Finance to launch allocations budget in 2018 after 15 days from the date of sending to the Presidency of the Republic... Warka Bank has informed its clients that they can now purchase Warka stock from the funds deposited in their bank accounts to participate in the Capital increase. The value will be (1) IQD per Warka share. [what could THAT possibly be worth?] The budget will be posted in the Official Gazette fifteen days after the ratification...the House of Representatives is considered to have ended the vote on the budget and there is no violation of the Constitution. Time Will Tell!
d
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:d
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ARTICLE 1-A (from PM Abadi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not posted on English side)
Prime Minister Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi presides over the meeting of the Higher Coordination Body between the governorate
March 19, 2018
Prime Minister Dr. Haider al-Abadi chaired the meeting of the Higher Coordinating Committee between the governorates. He reiterated the greetings of the martyrs of Iraq, the wounded and their families, and the victory makers, all of whom are continuing the cleansing operations that will continue until the terrorist ideology is eliminated.
The Prime Minister added that efforts should be focused on promoting victory, achieving security and stability, establishing a sound base and an appropriate atmosphere for reconstruction, improving services and providing employment opportunities for youth and graduates by encouraging investments, attracting companies and supporting the private sector, which is an active partner in the Iraqi economy.
On the issues of water and electricity, he stressed that we need serious cooperation and commitment to quotas and we want to distinguish between one province and another, calling for cooperation and justice and equity and good management of water to suffice all the provinces.
Dr. Haider al-Abadi said that the elections are on the doors and we are keen on its integrity and that it is running on time from all security and organizational aspects. He called on the conservatives to perform their duties in the service of citizens and not to make promises of employment on electoral grounds and to maintain neutrality. Their representatives properly.
Prime Minister 's Media Office
March 19, 2018
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ARTICLE 1-B (from PM Abadi's website; posted only on Arabic side, not posted on English side)
Prime Minister Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi receives a high-level delegation from the World Bank
March 19, 2018
Prime Minister Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi received a high-level delegation from the World Bank this morning, during which he stressed the excellent cooperation between the World Bank and the Iraqi government and its support for its reform and development programs.
He expressed his appreciation for the confidence of the World Bank in the Iraqi government and welcome the high-level delegation, which is visiting Iraq in light of the transition from the break-up phase of reconstruction in liberated areas and all provinces, stressing the need to focus on the goal of providing employment for Iraqi youth and reform of the banking system, In Kuwait is a global demonstration to express confidence in Iraq, and expressed optimism that Iraq will be a shining example in the region.
For his part, Vice President of the World Bank for the East, Mr. Ghanem Hafez expressed his pride in partnership with Iraq, stressing the confidence of the World Bank and the international community in the Iraqi government and admiration for its economic policies that will lead to further economic growth, noting that the World Bank aims to work with the Iraqi government to achieve reconstruction and increase Growth in all governorates of Iraq and providing thousands of job opportunities for young people.
Prime Minister 's Media Office
March 19, 2018
*************
ARTICLE 2
Tweet posted on Government of Iraq twitter account:
Government of IraqVerified account @IraqiGovt March 19, 2018, posted around 2:45 pm Eastern
Iraq’s Reconstruction Fund is overseeing the rebuilding of schools in Anbar & other liberated provinces. The @IraqiGovt is investing in the education of all Iraqi children, a vital foundation for social cohesion, personal empowerment and economic prosperity
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ARTICLE 3
The Parliamentary Services Committee plans to host communications officials on the delay of the Internet service
BAGHDAD, March 20 (Xinhua) - The head of the parliamentary services and reconstruction committee, Nazem al-Saadi, announced that the Ministry of Communications is hosting officials to determine the reasons for the delay in the Internet service in Iraq.
Al-Saadi said in an interview that "we had previously addressed the Minister of Communications and we were informed that there was a malfunction in the submarine cable coming from the Sultanate of Oman and that the crisis would end within a month, but that did not happen.
"We have many drawbacks to the performance and work of this ministry and we will continue to follow during their hosting immediately after the parliament." Finish
*************
ARTICLE 4
Military reinforcements arrive in Samarra to secure the visit of Imam al-Hadi
Salah al-Din - Iraq Press - March 20: Commander of operations Samarra Major General Imad al-Zuhairi, the arrival of large military reinforcements to Samarra to secure the protection of visitors of Imam al-Hadi.
"Samarra has received significant military reinforcements from the defense, interior and emergency forces as well as security and intelligence personnel to strengthen our leadership units in order to secure the necessary protection on the anniversary of the martyrdom and birth of Imam Ali al-Hadi," Zuhairi said in a statement.
The statement added that "these pieces took place according to the security plan prepared by our leadership, which will start on Tuesday." Finished
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ARTICLE 5
Suspension of work in three civil affairs departments in Erbil starting next Sunday to issue a unified card
Erbil - Iraq Press - March 20: The General Directorate of Nationality announced on Tuesday the suspension of work in three civil affairs departments in Erbil starting next Sunday.
"Three civilian districts will be closed in the province of Arbil (Ankawa-Shaklawa-Khleifan) starting next Sunday with the aim of issuing the national card to the citizens and the arrest will be via the website," Maj. Gen. Mahdi Ne'ma al-Waeli said. Ending AH
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ARTICLE 6
The day of happiness "and the classification of Baghdad as the worst cities living
2018/3/20 9:51
[Where - Continue]
On Tuesday, the world celebrates the day of happiness, which falls on the 20th of March every year. What is the story of this day?
The day of happiness is not as old as some think, but it began to be celebrated in 2013, after a proposal by a United Nations consultant, which was quickly responded to by many countries of the world, so that the number of countries celebrating the day of happiness is 193 countries.
Counselor Jaime Elaine says he began to think of Happy Day in 2011, noting that the idea was supported by former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who agreed to include the day in the annual calendar of the organization's celebrations.
"The happiness of the entire humanitarian community is one of the goals of the United Nations," said the former Secretary-General, urging people to devote their efforts to filling the world with happiness.
The international consultant chose this day because it coincides with the equinoxes of the day and the so-called March equinox, with 12 hours of daylight hours and almost midnight.
The United Nations asserts that "happiness is not a luxury, it is an aspiration deeply rooted in human beings, and no one should be deprived of it."
Despite the differences in standards of happiness among humans, the international organization says that everyone agrees that it "means working to end the conflict, poverty and other dire conditions experienced by huge numbers of people."
This coincides with the announcement of the Iraqi capital Baghdad as the "worst" cities in the world and for the tenth year in a row, according to the annual survey conducted by the «Mercer» global consulting.
The Austrian capital Vienna retained its status as the world's best living city according to the new classification.
The company's survey of 231 cities helps companies and institutions identify compensation allowances and subsistence allowances for international workers.
The criteria included political stability, health care, education, crime, recreation and transport. Eight European countries are on the top ten, with three German cities and three Swiss cities, with New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
Vienna, home to 1.8 million people, topped the list for the ninth year in a row with a vibrant cultural environment as well as a comprehensive network of health care and affordable housing. Zurich came in second with Auckland in New Zealand and Munich in Germany in third place.
Vancouver came in fifth place to become the best city in North America.
Singapore ranked 25th and Montevideo at 77th, and Durban was ranked 89th. London fell one place to 41th place in the annual comparison.
Baghdad has been on the list for the tenth year running, and the city has been plagued by sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. Yemen has advanced two centers from Baghdad, while Damascus has advanced six positions before the Iraqi capital.
*************
TNT Call notes 19-March-2018 by Adept 1
[Music: It’s done, it’s finished; the RV’s on its way…]
RayRen: Good afternoon, TNT super-fantastic family! This is Marvelous Monday, March 19, 2018, with yours truly RayRen98 here, along with…
Tony: Gooood morning, TNT! I hope everybody’s okay.
RayRen: These are the updates from the weekend. Saturday updates:
· Iraqi TV is broadcasting payments for citizens in large volumes.
· Iraqi News is showing the lifting of the international ban on all Iraqi stadiums.
· March 21 is being determined a holiday, all Iraqis are being told they will have payments by this date.
· Still no rates shared by those citizens who have received payment already.
· Iraqi TV was broadcasting the House of Representatives stating that the Ministry of Finance will launch the 2018 Budget in four days, just inside of the supposed 15-day deadline.
· So far, three bank sources have reported seeing rear and "Front" screens populating with supposedly "live" rates. But, of course, all of the banks are closed for now. A member has shared an "unconfirmed" report of certain exchange personnel reporting to work on Sunday morning. Woo-hoo!
Sunday morning:
Iraqi TV broadcasts that the CBI has launched electronic banking throughout Iraq stating that all citizens will now be paid via this new system. Even the Kurdistan region has ceded its banking operations.
Written articles have surfaced stating the following:
· The Budget will go forth as written, even if not approved by the President of the Republic, Faud Masoum.
· The House of Representatives formally addressed the Ministry of Finance to launch allocations budget in 2018 after 15 days from the date of sending to the Presidency of the Republic. [Of course, we shared this earlier already.]
· Warka Bank has informed its clients that they can now purchase Warka stock from the funds deposited in their bank accounts to participate in the Capital increase. The value will be (1) IQD per Warka share. [what could THAT possibly be worth?]
· The budget will be posted in the Official Gazette fifteen days after the ratification. The House of Representatives is considered to have ended the vote on the budget and there is no violation of the Constitution.
RayRen in chat: “Unconfirmed” ranges for live rates: dinar @ $3.71, dong @ .47, rupiah @ $1.08, Zim @ 10 cents (actually 0.00000010, so 100 Trillion = $10 million).
Be ready so you won’t have to get ready. ‘Front screen’ reports are coming in; rates are populating! The rial has not appeared on the front screens yet.
Tony: There is not a whole lot beyond what Ray said. Kurdistan region is getting paid today; all their money has been moved. I got a week and a half ago that the Budget was published in the Gazette, just not been made public. I see that it is in the Gazette today – it is there today. Now that it is finalized, the IMF, World Bank and US are all happy.
There are two things I know about Iraq: bank people and government people over there are both saying we should see the lower denominations between now and the 21st. The 21st is a holiday (the Persian New Year) and a ‘new day’. Also we should see a new rate between now and the 25th. They are saying that on the 21st they are starting life over again in Iraq, moving from darkness into light. Their country is becoming prominent again as one of the ‘seven tigers’. They are looking for really good things to happen between now and the 25th. There is a three-day celebration in Kurdistan and one day in Iraq on the 21st. Today is the 19th, so it’s not far off. We’ll see what happens on Wednesday
The US banks are frustrated because they all thought it would be last week, and they got all geared up. They are highly upset, having told their people not to take any time off. Everything is moving and in place; everyone is ready to go. On Saturday night, I got a phone call saying that three banks in different states had live rates. That was around midnight on the East Coast, 9pm Pacific time. I got all these phone calls, people were all excited. I just said we needed to wait until Sunday morning or Monday to see what was really happening, and by then it had subsided. We had people in six different states at the one bank, and two others from other banks. When all the banks are lining up, then we will know it’s live. We used to say the rates were live on the front and back screens in the past, and it was always on Friday evening at midnight. The rate would be live for an hour or so, and they would be processing VIPs at that time. So I imagine they were processing some people this time as well.
The rates on the front and back screens were $3.77 for the dinar, 47 cents for the dong, and ten cents for the Zim. We hope that is the last time that happens before we all get to go to the bank.
That’s all the news, really. In Iraq they are telling the people they are expecting the rate to change by or before the 25th. I’m calm and realistic. They had to force feed the Budget to the Kurds, but at least they are being paid. By the 21st, everyone should be paid, and have everything caught up from years worth of arrears. Then it’s a new day for Iraq.
I got a long letter about how they cannot find the Federal Reserve districts – which are freely available on the internet. Or you can go to bit.ly/800districts.
Thanks for the birthday and anniversary wishes.
Questions from the TNT forum
Q: Did the people the banks wanted to go through first get done? A: I don’t know, but I think that’s the only reason we saw those rates. Also, is the reason we don't know the rates given on the Iraq cards due to the card holders are afraid to say? A: Even this morning, our sources would not give the rates. I did talk to some people who have not been paid yet, but they said people have been paid at the regular rate, not the new rates. They are paying everyone at the old rate until they get everyone is paid up. They are paying every dime that is owed, and then they can have a clean sweep.
Q: If the customer decides that he wants to open a trust for his family who can he put as the trustee so that the trust benefits him and his family? [Tony: Family members.] What type of trust would you recommend? A: I recommend complex trusts.
Q: Is the 80-20 on the Zim back? Is it limited to 100T? A: Don’t know – haven’t heard anything on the Zim yet, and the banks haven’t been updated at all. They still seem to think they will take it all with 25-year payouts. I know what the committee wants to do, but the banks have not heard any changes.
Q: Have any other banks reported their rates on the screens this morning? A: No. Banks are reporting NO rates on screens today, and that could be a good thing.
Q: If we only have one or two dinar, and want the contract rate, do we ask the teller, or have to call the 800# to get an appointment for that? And to the best of your knowledge, what is the tax situation on the contract rate? A: Where did you get one or two dinar when the lower denominations aren’t out yet? If you mean one or two notes [e.g., 25,000 dinar notes] then you have to call the 800 numbers if you want contract rates. For any rate, we have been told there are no taxes.
Q: What is the wisdom of, before calling and setting an exchange appointment, for my wife and I to separately go to a bank teller and exchange a million dollars worth of currency? As insurance against appointment delays. A:
Q: Any determination if Pre-tax status applies to state taxes? A: We have covered that several times. State income tax is usually based on your federal income tax returns. Nothing on the 1040 means no federal income tax, and no state income tax.
Tony has said the Zim might be .147 cents, and Ray mentioned .10 on Sunday’s TNT morning call. Has there been a determination on a rate adjustment, or method of calculation (zeros following the decimal)? A: The ten cents is what the bank showed on its screen. That doesn’t mean it is what you’ll get.
Tony has said the Zim might be .147 cents, and Ray mentioned .10 on Sunday’s TNT morning call. Has there been a determination on a rate adjustment, or method of calculation (zeros following the decimal)? A: The ten cents is what the bank showed on its screen. That doesn’t mean it is what you’ll get.
Q: When we exchange our dinar if we get 20 million on the contract rate can we exchange the rest of our dinar using the bank rate let’s say 4.00 or what the actual rate is? Will they take the rest of our dinar away beyond the 20 million or can it be exchanged? A: Nobody is taking your dinar. So far as we have been told, IF contract rates are still available, you can exchange UP TO ten million DINAR at the contract rate; above that you can still exchange at the international rate ($3.50 to $4.00).
Q: We take the contract rate and sign a NDA does that affect our Zim or dong or dinar beyond the 20 million? A: The other currencies will affect how much of the contract rate you will get. If you sign the NDA to get the contract rate on dinar, it applies to all your currencies, at any amount. So if there is a penalty for breaking the NDA, that will affect all your currencies, so be careful what you are agreeing to.
Q: We take the contract rate and sign a NDA does that affect our Zim or dong or dinar beyond the 20 million? A: The other currencies will affect how much of the contract rate you will get. If you sign the NDA to get the contract rate on dinar, it applies to all your currencies, at any amount. So if there is a penalty for breaking the NDA, that will affect all your currencies, so be careful what you are agreeing to.
Q: There has been some discussion "within the community" that the Lead Banks will be willing to set up "skeleton trusts" for those of us who, up to now, have not been able to set up trusts prior to the RV, giving us a safe place to park our money until we are able to hire our own professionals. My question is, 'If this is the case, would it be possible to then move the money(s) from this temporary, skeleton trust into our more permanent Non-Statutory Private Trusts and will that strategy provide us ample protection from any further tax liabilities as would - or might be the case by just leaving it "hanging out there" in a public bank account?' Would there be any other protections this might provide for us such as maintaining a higher level of privacy? RayRen: You have some serious misconceptions. The money is going to stay in a bank account no matter what – whether you exchange under your own name or into a trust. I don’t know anything about ‘skeleton trusts’. At the level we are operating at, you will have a private banker anyway. If you are moving money from one trust to a separate trust, then it will be taxable. If there is a link between the trusts, that should just be a ledger transfer. It all depends on how you do it. If the bank creates a skeleton trust, and then the person creates a family trust, then that would be 100% taxable. Ask your tax professional. You need to know and understand why you are doing this crazy stuff anyway. Tony: If you aren’t in during the next two hours or two days, call the bank and ask what you can do with your inheritance or whatever excuse you want to make. Ask the banks those questions NOW, before you go in. They can advise you about what they can do for you, and how much it will cost. Then those questions will be answered.
Q: Tony has suggested that the Zim could reach the rate of nearly a full dollar in the distant future of almost five years time. What could a person expect to yield from this long term investment at that time? A: Whatever you have in Zim x 100 million per 100 T note. I do think it is unlikely that when it hits a dollar you will still be holding 100 T notes. If it does happen and the note is still good, you’ll get dollar for dollar. You’ll hav to watch it closely for that period of time to make sure they don’t discontinue the notes. In Iraq, if you don’t exchange during the next two years, they are no longer valid. If you just want to gamble, get an account at a brokerage firm, buy this currency, and let it sit there until you want to sell it again if/when the rate is a dollar.
Q: Is the Afghani still in the first basket? [Yes.] Any current rate information? A: It’s $2.39 last we heard.
Q: The areas for the 800 numbers are basically the Federal Reserve districts.. Will the Federal Reserve have a part in the exchange locations? A: No, the banks are doing the exchanges and providing exchange locations.
Q: I’ve had two trusts and a foundation in place for some time with currencies assigned to each. When I call the 800 #, do I make appointments for each entity? [A: Yes.] Will they recognize each entity separately when it comes to cap rules? A: You will have to ask them and see.
Q: Are Dealers going to be doing Exchanges as well as banks? A: Well, they will still be dealers after the RV; if I’m doing business with a dealer now, I would ask that dealer about their intentions post-RV.
Questions from live callers
TX caller: Do you have an opinion about Abbott Downing?
Tony: They are set up to be good; you have to have 50 million or above.
951 caller: When this rate comes out, where do you think we’ll see the new rate first? In the Gazette or from Abadi?
Tony: The CBI is in charge of the rate, and they are autonomous. They will put out the new rate in Iraq, and I have no idea of how they plan to do that. It will have to be something that reaches everyone at the exact same moment.
Caller: I don’t have the money to establish a trust right now, so I plan to exchange into a private account, and then transfer the money into the trust. Is there tax liability on that?
RayRen: I think you can do that, or at least, I don’t see why not.
423 caller: You must be getting tired.
Tony: But we are at the end… all we are waiting for is for the lower denominations to come out. The Budget is out, it’s the law, everything is finished.
Caller: You said that for the first ten days, only WF, BofA and HSBC will be exchanging.
Tony: On our call, they said ‘for the first seven days’ for Wells Fargo, because they are the lead bank. I asked people at other, smaller banks, and they are saying to come in because they will do exchanges, BUT they have to ship your money off for verification, so it will take just as long. WF is actually where tier 2 banks’ get currency authenticated. Also, WF and the other lead banks will let you exchange through their affiliates. When this goes, it will be live at all the bank branches; however, they may not all be exchange locations. They have changed that in the last two month – now they are saying that people will be able to exchange at the teller level (if you have less than one million). Now they do seem to be including all banks and branches; otherwise there will be confusion.
Caller: Anything on the NDA?
Tony: We haven’t received it yet. If I were an everyday ordinary person, I would go in there and sign that NDA in a heartbeat so I could get my extra millions. Believe me, I would sign it. There are eight million people out here, and they did the NDA the way they did to scare you away from signing it. They don’t want you to have this money! But you are not going to talk about this money anyway, if you don’t intend to write a book or make a movie, then there are not enough agents to watch eight million people and everything they do and say. They are not going to watch you for the next year unless you do something blatantly obvious. Why would you leave millions on the table because you’re scared to sign this piece of paper? No one’s going to scare me out of my future.
773 caller: You talked about the Zim and the rates on the screen; you said that they can always change because they are based on the price of oil. Looking at the price of oil over the last year, who’s to say they won’t manipulate it so that prices go down rather than up.
Tony: They are coming out at the bottom rate they want to be at. They want the hedge funds and such to be invested in Iraq’s economy. They want the price of oil to go up, which means that oil production goes down so that it becomes more valuable. Other that that, they want the rates on Forex to go up to attract more investors. In fact, they ALWAYS manipulate oil production and prices. OPEC does that 3-4 times per year; that’s what they do. The currency will not go down before the international rate that Iraq wants; if anything, Iraq will push it up 2% every 90 days.
610 caller: if you are financially able to donate, please send your check or money order to Ray Renfrow, PO Box 1748, Elm City, NC 27822. You can also find the address at www.tntsuperfantastic.com; click on the Donate button and send your check today.
806 caller: I gave two 25K dinar notes to friends, and I want to give them the 800 numbers so they can get the contract rate and sign the NDA without compromising me.
Tony: That’s the right thing to do, if you want them to get the contract rates.
Caller: I’m from a small town in Texas with a Bank of America and a Wells Fargo. I have no way to get information beside this call. Will I get the 800 numbers from you, or what?
Tony: It doesn’t cost anything to get our tweets – just sign up for our Twitter list. Do you get a text every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday? Then you are on our list already.
818 caller: I heard they are already exchanging lower denominations in Baghad? If so, there would have to be a rate.
Tony: Nobody I have talked to has received lower denominations yet.
Caller: If you exchange in your own name and then create a trust and transfer money into it, is that taxable?
RayRen: My understanding is that if you are the grantor and you grant those funds to the trust, then it is NOT taxable (up to 50 million dollars). Please take professional advice.
Caller: Will the Philippine peso be part of the first basket? [Tony: No.]
972 caller: When the intel came out about dinar being used on the stock exchange for the Warka Bank, and the ticker says the cost of one share is $1.26, does that mean the rate is also 1.26? If they can use one dinar to buy one share…
Tony: I don’t know. According to Warka, their stock is a penny stock. That means you can buy a share for a penny while everyone else is paying 1.26 dinar, they are giving you a break because right now one dinar is worth less than a penny, more like a tenth of a penny. Also, the Stock Exchange is saying Warka bank stock is worth one dinar, not one dollar. Let’s see what the price is once the rate changes…
316 caller: Last week you said I’d need a Power of Attorney to do the exchange for my relatives are out of the country. I did that. Does each person need his or her own Bank of America account? Or can I make the exchange and transfer into their accounts? I’m the only one who has a BofA account right now.
Tony: You don’t’ want to just do the exchange – you want to open accounts for them as well? I don’t know if you can do that. Take your Power of Attorney to Bank of America right now and ask if that Power of Attorney will allow you to open bank accounts for them. Ask the bank what you can do with those Powers of Attorney!
Caller: Did I hear correctly that there is no longer a contract rate on the dong?
Tony: That is what we have been told.
Closing Statement
I know we’re all getting tired of hearing we’re done, done, done… but we are so close. The currency IS international, and we’re just waiting for the rate to change. Everything is done, including the Budget. The banks are ready to go, thought they would go last week. The CBI has the power and authority to change the rate. They will activate it from their sites in Iraq and Texas, and we will go live at that time. The back wall they have been given is the 25th, and today is the 19th, so this party will begin. Take the time to call everyone you need to call about trusts, foundations, banks, all that. BE READY for the 800 numbers; when you get that tweet, your mind will go blank. Have it all written down – your plan should be already done. Make your decisions now. Enjoy your Monday.
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